Tobies



BEST AVAILABLE COP:

Dec. 7 1926. 4 1,609,961

W. C READEKER MOTION PI GTURE MACHINE Filed Jan. 22. 1925 INVENTOR rll'llllllllllll 1 Wzllzam (73 410? i 'atented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNETED STATES BEST AvAitABLE COP.

PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM C. READEKER, 0F NEJV YORK, N. Y.. ASSIGNOR 'I'O CLAREMONTLABORA- TORIES, ING. OF NE'W YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTION-PICTURE MACHINE.

Application filed January 22. 1925. Serial No. 3,897.

This invention relates to motion picture machines and more particularlyto a machine of the intermittent film feeding type such as that shown inmy pending application for patent, Ser. No. 499,658, filed September 10,1921, which has matured into Patent 1,542,- 401). June 16, 1925.

It is one of the objects of my present improvementsto reduce thenumbenof parts in a mechanism of this kind and provide a. more con'ipactarrangement thereof whereby production costs are reduced to a minimumand it becomes possible to mount or arrange such mechanism within a caseor housing of small dimensions. v

It is another object of my invention to provide simple, efiiectiveandautomatically operating means for eliminating fire hazard in theoperation of such machines by prcventingv the possible ignition of thefilm.

More particularly, in. one embodiment of the present improvements Iprovide a. light shutter fixed upon the actuating shaft of the filmfeeding mechanism which is also operatively' connected with and drivenby a suitable motor, said shutter serving as a combined driving and flywheel for the actuating shaft." This wheel is provided withdiametrically opposed openings and is interposed. between the a 'ertureof the film gate and the source of lig t so that the solid portions ofthe wheel'between said openings intersect'the light beam during periodsof intermittent movement of the film. At one side of this wheel or lightshutter, a fire screen is loosely mounted on the shaft and is yieldablyconuected'with'said wheel whereby the screen is normally: held inposition over the openings in said wheel. Upon-rotation of saidwheel ator above a normal operating speed, the fire screen, due to its inertia,assumes a position between said openings so that it will not obstructthe passage of'the light beam therethrough.

It is one of the detail objects of the invention to providean improvedmeans whereby relative displacement between-the openings in the lightshutter and the fire screen at speeds below the normal operating speedis,

resisted, said means assisting the yieldable connecting means betweenthe fire screen and the light shutter in maintaining the light screen inits normal position.

The invention also has for an additional object to provide anautomatically acting brake device for retarding the closing movement ofthe tire screen under the action of said spring.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, aswill be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoinedclaims.

.ln the drawing wherein I have illustrated one simple and practicalembodiment of my present llHpIOVBIIlEDtS and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a vertical sectional view illustrating so much of theoperating mechanism of the machine as will enable the presentin'iprovements to be clearly understood;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, showing thefire screen in its normal position;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the position of the fire screen inthe operation of the machine; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4- of Figureof the present explanain Figure 1 of the drawhaving an aperture 6through which a beam of light is projected from a suitable light source(not shown). The film indicated at F is intermittently ted past thisopeningat one side of the gate plate 5 by means of a cam actuated feedmechanism, generally designated by the numeral 7, which is fullydescribed and claimed in'detail in my co-pending application abovereferred to.

The film feeding mechanism is actuated by a cam 8 fixed on one end of ashaft 9 journaled in a suitable supporting frame 10. Upon this shaftbetween the film feedingmechanism and the light source there is fixed alight shutter 1 As herein shown, this shutter is in the form of a wheelhaving a peripheral belt receiving groove 12 to receive a driving beltconnected with the shaft of an operating motor. Thus it will heunderstood that the light shutter 11 also serves as a combined drivingand fly wheel for the shaft 9.

The wheel 11 is provided at diametrically For the purposes tion, I haveshown ings. a film gate opposite points with the sector shaped openings13. It will be noted that the plane of rotation of the-wheel 11intersects the path of the light bezim through the aperture 6 and itwill therefore be understood that in each revolution of the wheel, theprojection of the light beam through said aperture 1s twice interruptedby the solid portions of the wheel between the openings 13 thereof.These )GllOClS of interruption of the projection or the light beamthrough said aperture corresponds with the periods of interruptionin"tl1c movement of the film 'F. and duri-ni' the intervals betweenthese interrupted movements, while the film is station ary. one of theopenings 13 traverses the path of the light beam so that. said beam isprojected through the aperture and the film and thereby projects theimage from the film unon the-display screen.-

.\5 is well known, moving picture film is very inflammable audit isusual to provide lire screen such machines which pi-re'ntsthe'play ofthe light beam upon thescrecn' during such time as the machine isn'aotbeing operated, and minimizes the possibility or'igmtic of the film. Inthe present T'proiid'e a novel form an d constriction nffi'r'efscreenwhich is automatically'positioncd orer the openings 13 in t.he"'liglitshutter wheel 11 when said wheelis stationary or is rotating atrelativelylow-speeds. In a preferred einbodiznent this screen is iiiithoform or a thin sheet-nieta'l' member having spaced sector shaped-wings14 corresponding to the shape of the openings 13 in the wheel 11. Thesewings att-heir inner ends arefixed to a disc or ccllar '15' "liicl1'loosely surrounds the sl'aft" 9' and-"is dispose'd within a cup ord'riz' *16fixd to th'e frame 10. The collar 15 is "provided witha-'-plura lit.y fof radially disposed 'cylindrical'pockets' whichloosely receive the tumbler Inembers 15, the outer en s'nf whicli arerounded or convex and dapted'for frictional -engagement withtlie"'inn'er' 'faceof the circnlnferential wall of'the'dru'm 16; Eachblade or wing 1d of the tire screen is provided "upon one of its'lat'einl'iongitndinal edges with a flange 17 which is obliquelyinclined inwardly at an acute angle from the plane of said wing" emu-usthe 'whc'l 11-. r end eta contractile spring 18 is fixed t the 5sec ofthe wheel 11 and the other end'o'f said spring is attached tothe flange17 throne of the wings 'or blades 14. This spring normally acts to holdsaid flange on the latterhlade against astop pin 19 progccjtingfronrtlie faceof the wheel 11 and as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings,in this normal position of the fire screen, the blades .4- the cot arepositioned over-um respective openings 13 in said wheel.

'In-tl re operat-ion of the machine for the rojection of pictures fromthe film F, when the shutter or wheel ll is rotated at.- or above BESTAVAILABLE COP.

a normal operating speed, the fire screen loosely mounted on the shaft9, due to its inertia, tends to retain a relatively stationary positionso that the spring 18 is gradually expanded. The relative movementbetween the screen and the wheel 11 is retarded due to air resistanceacting against the flanges 17 on the wings or blades 2? and byfrictional contact between the tumblers l5 and the base of the drum 15.it will be readily understood that the air which exerts pressure againsttheouterfaces of the inclined flanges 17 tends to shift the fire screenaxially along; the shaft 9 and thus urges the collar 15 of said screenagainst the collar 16. Thus the screen is retained in normal positionwhen the spring 18 starts to expand after the wheel has acquired apredetermined normal operating speed. This frictional resistance to therotation of the fire screen with the shntterismaterially increased byreason of the frictional braking action of the radially movablellll'l'lblEl'i-j 15 against the annular wall of the fixed drum 16.Accordingly, the tendency of the spring 18 to contractand more the tirescreen from its normal position after the shutter has acquired thepredetermined operating speed, is effectually overcome so that suchshutter will rotate relative to the fire screen to dispose the openings13 thereof in posi tions substantially between the spaced blades or.wings 14 of said the shutter. However, it will be apparent that runnerrelative movement between the the screen Bland wheel 11 will be limitedby engagement of one edge of one of the' .bla'cles 14 the pin.l9, thusprecluding the.p o'ssibi1ity' of the blades '14: m'oi 'in'g past th'ej,position shown in Figure 3 and over the openings 13 at veryhighoperating'fspeeds of the wheel 11. Upon stoppii'i'g the'op'eration ofthe machine, if the speed of rotation of the wheel 11 decreases below anormal operating speed, the fire screen is returned to its normalposition bythejspring ltl and the Wings 01' blades thereof are againpositioned over the openings 13 in said 'wheel as will be readilyunderstood. From the foregoing; description considered inco'nnectionwrith tliehceompanying drawings, the construction and mannerof operation of my presentimprovements Wlll be clearly understood. Itwill first be observed that by eliminating the separate drive wheel forthe actuating shaft!) and combining this drive wheel with the fly wheeland light shutter I have reduced the number of necessary parts so thatthe mechanism is more compact and can be mounted and arranged in a verylimited-space; Also it will be seen that the improved fire screen isentirely automatic in its action so that whenever it becomesnecessaryito stop the operation of the machine, the openings 1,609,961BEST AVAILABLE COP.

through the shutter wheel are immediately closed without requiring anymanual operation upon the part of the operator. Owing to the extremelysimple form of this fire screen it will be appreciated that the samewill not materially add to the manufacturing and selling cost of suchmachines.

I have herein illustrated and described an embodiment of the inventionwhich I have found to be very satisfactory in practical operation,nevertheless it is to be understood that the device might beincorporated in various other alternative structures, and I accordinglyreserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may befairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with film feeding mechanism and an actuating shafttherefor,

a drive wheel fixed on said shaft between said mechanism and a source oflight and intersecting the ath of the light beam, said wheel vhaving.spaced openings therein through which the light beam isintermittcntlyprojected in the rotation :of the wheel, and means yieldingly.connected. with said wheel normally closing. said. openings, said meansand the wheel automatically moving relative to eachother when the wheelacquires a predetermined. rotative speed toadmit ofthe passage of thelight beam throulgh said openings.

2. n combination with film feeding mechanism and .anactuating shafttherefor, a drive wheel fixed on said shaft between said mechanism and asource of light and intersecting the path of the light beam, said wheelhaving spaced openings therein throughwhich the light beam is 'intermittently projected in the rotation of the wheel,

and means rotating with saidv wheel and normally covering: the openingstherein, said means being constructed and arranged whereby relativerotationtakes place between said means and the wheel upon rotation of.the wheel at or above a normal operating speed to position said meansout of. obstructing relation to said openings andthereby pervrnit of theprojection of the light beam through said-openings during. the operativerotation of said wheel.

3. In, combination with a film feeding mechan sm and an actuating shafttherefor,

.-' alight shutter fixed upon said shaft between said mechanism and asource of light and intersecting the path ofthe light beam, a firescreen mounted at one side of said shutter for rotationwith respectthereto, and yielda-ble means connecting said fire screen to the shutterfor movement as a unit therewith, said means yieldably resistingrelative rotation of said shutter and fire screen to retain said screenin; a normal position obstructing the projection of the light beam pastsaid shutter but permitting of such relative rotation when the shutteris rotated at or above a normal operating speed whereby the light beamis intermittently projected past said shutter in such rotationthereof.

-t. in combination with mechanism for intermittently feeding a motionpicture film past a light aperture and an actuating shaft there for, a.drive wheel fixed upon said shaft between the light aperture and thesource of light and intersecting the path of the light beam, said drivewheel having spaced openings therein, a fire screen loosely mounted uponsaid shaft for rotation with respect to said wheel, yieldable meansconnectin said fire screen with the wheel for rotation as a unit.therewith and retaining said fire screen in anormal position over saidopenings, said means permitting of such relative rotation when saidwheel is rotated at or above a normal-operating speed whereby the firescreen is automatically positioned out of obstructing relation to saidopenings during the continued unitary movement of the fire screen. andsaid wheel,j and. additional means supplementing the action of saidyieldablemeans inxresisting the movement of the fire screen to thelatterposition.

5. In combination with, mechanism for. intermittently feedingaanotionpicture film pasta light aperture andan. actuating. shaft therefor, adrive wheel fixedupon said shaft between the light aperture and. theysource of light and intersecting the path of the light beam, said drive.wheel having spaced openings therein, a fire screen loosely mounted uponsaid shaft for rotation with respect to said wheel, yieldable meansconnecting said fire screen with the wheel for rotation as a unittherewith and retaining said fire-screen in a ,normal' position oversaid openings, said means permitting of such relative rotation when saidwheel isrotated at or above a normaloperating speed whereby the fire;-screen is automatically positioned out of obstructing relationtosaidopenings during the continued. unitary movement of the fire screenand said wheel, said the screen including spaced blades and means oneach of said blades for the impingement of air therewith to supplementtheresistanee of said yieldable means tothe relative rota-- edge of eachotsaiid bla'des extending radi- 'al'l-yof' the wheel for the impingementof air stance of thereagainst to supplel'nent the r rotationsaij'd'yieldable means to the relative ()fllllflhlll and tire screen.

- 7'. In c'oml'nnat- )l} with mechanism for intermittently feedinga'motion picture film past a} light aperture and an actuating shafttherefor,- a drivewheel fixed upon said shaft betweenthe light apertureand the source of light and intei' sect ing the path of the lightbeam-,- said drive wheel having spaced opening's thereii'na fire" screenloosely mounted upon said shaft for rotation with respect to said wheel;yiel'dable means connecting said fire screen witlifthewheel for rotationa unit therewith and retaining said fire screen in a norinal'positionover said openings, said means permitting of such relative rotation whensaid wheel isrota-ted at or above a normal operating speed \"vher'e'hythe fire screen is automatically positioned out of obstructingrelati'onto said" openings duringt he continued unitary movement of thefire screen and s'a i d whee'l flange on one edge of each of said bladesextending radially of the wheel. for the impingement of airthereaga-inst to supplement the resistance of said yieldable means tothe relative rotation of the wheel and fire, screen, and a stop on saidwheel with which one of the blades of the fire screen is adapted to cag'e to limit relative rotation of'the fire screen in both directions\i-ith'resp'ect to said wheel 8. In combination with means forintermittently f'eedinga motion picture film past a light aperture andan actnatin; shaft therefor, a drive wheel fixed on said shaft betweenthe aperture and the source of light and intersecting the path of thelight beam, said wheel having spaced openings therein. a fire screenloosely n'iou'nted on said shaft for rotative, movement relative to thewheel, fieldahle means connecting the fire-screen to said wheel andnormally retaining the the screen over said openings for rotation as aunit with the wheel, said yieldablc means permitting of the relativerotation of said wheel and fire screen when the wheel is rotated at orabove a normal operating speed whereby said openings will beunobstructed by the fire screen, and additional coacting means forapplying an additional frictional resistance to such relative rotationof the wheel and fire screen.

9. Incombination with. means for intermittently feeding a motion picturefilm past a light aperture and an actuatingshaft therefor, a drive wheelfixed on said shattbetween the aperture and thesource of light andinterz xa-tirigthe path of the light beam, said wheel having spacedopenings therein, a fire screen loosely mounted-on said shaft forrotative movementrelative to the wheel, yiclrlalyle means connectingt-lie fire screen to said wheel and normally retaining the fire screenover said'openings for rotation as unit with the wheel; saidyield'abl'e" means permitting of? the relative rotation of said wheeland fire screen when the wheelis rotated at or abovea normal operatingspeed whereby said openings will be unobstructed by t-hcfire screen,said fire'screen consisting of spaced blades each having flaiigeortoneedge extending radian of the wheel wherely ad'ditionalair resistanceisoffered to the relative rotation of the fire screen andwheel andadditional frictionally' coacting parts providinga further resistinginfluencc to size-h relative rotation.

10. In combination with the mechanism for intermittently feeding anotion picture film pasta light aperture and an actuating shafttherefor, a drivewheel fixed upon said shaft between said" aperture anda source of light and intersecting the path of the; light beami saidwheel having spaced openings therein, a fire screen atone side of' saidwheel consisting of spaced blades,"a c0llar loosely mounted onsaid-shaft to which said blades are secured, yield-able meansconnectingsaid firej screen with the wheel for unitary rotationtherewith but permittingof a relative rotatio'nofsaid wheel and firescreen whenthe' wh'el'isrotated at'or above a normal operating speedwhereby said openings will he unobstructed by the fire screen, anobliquely inclined flange on one edge of each of said blades extendingtowards the wheel whereby additional air resistance is offered to snchrelati'\-'e rotation of the wheel and fire screen, a fixed part inopposed relation to said collar, the impingement of air against saidflanges urging said collar into frictional relation with said part toai'vply further resistance against such relative rotation of the wheeland fire screen, said yieldable means returning the ffire screen to anormal. position over said openings to obstruct the passage of the lightbeam therethrough, and stop means for limiting the relative rotativemovement of said wheel and fire screen in both directions.

11. In combination with a film feeding mechanism. and an actuating shafttherefor, alight shutter fixed upon said shaft between said mechanismand a source of light and intersecting the pathof the light beam, atfire screen mounted at one side of said shutter for rotation withrespect thereto and normally intersecting the path of the light beam andmeans resisting relative rotation 1,609,961 BESTAVA'ILABLE COP. 5

of the shutter and fire screen to retain said screen in its normalposition until the shutter has acquired a predetermined operating speedand thereafter permitting rotation of the shutter relative to the firescreen for the projection of the light beam past the shutter in thecontinued rotation thereof.

'12. In combination with a film feeding mechanism, and an actuatingshaft therefor, a light shutter fixed upon said shaft between saidmechanism and a source of light and intersecting the path of the lightbeam, a fire screen mounted at one side of said shutter for rotationwith respect thereto and normally intersecting the path of the lightbeam, means resisting relative rotation of the shutter and fire screento retain said screen in its normal position until the shutter hasacquired a predetermined operating speed and thereafter permittingrotation of the shutter relative tothe fire screen for the projection ofthe light beam past the shutter in the continued rotation thereof, saidmeans including a centrifugal brake device automatically acting tofrictionally resist rotation of the fire screen with said shutter.

13. In combination with a film feeding mechanism, and an actuating shafttherefor, a light shutter fixed upon said shaft between said mechanismand a source of light and intersecting the path of the light beam, afire screen mounted at one side of said shutter for rotation withrespect thereto and normally intersecting the path of the light beam,means resisting relative rotation of the shutter and fire screen toretain said screen in its normal position until the shutter has acquiredapredetermined operating speed and thereafter permitting rotation of theshutter relative to the fire screen for the projection of the light beampast the shutter in the continued rotation thereof, said means includinga fixed brake drum, and.

means carried by the fire screen and automatically coacting with saidbrake drum to frictionally resist rotation of the fire screen with saidshutter.

14. In combination with a film feeding mechanism, and an actuating shafttherefor, a light shutter fixed upon said shaft between said mechanismand a source of light and intersecting the path of the light beam, afire screen mounted at one side of said shutter for rotation withrespect thereto and normally intersecting the path of the light beam,means resisting relative rotation of the shutter and fire screen toretain said screen in its normal position until the shutter has acquireda predetermined operating speed and thereafter permitting rotation ofthe shutter relative to the fire screen for the projection of the lightbeam past the shutter in the continued rotation thereof, a fixed brakedrum, a collar fixed to the fire screen and positioned within the saiddrum and a plurality of radially movable tumblers carried by said collaradapted to be projected by centrifugal force into frictional coactingengagement with the wall of said drum to resist rotation of the firescreen with said shutter.

In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my invention. I have signed myname hereto.

WILLIAM C. READEKER.

